Police warning after cargo washes up on Portland

Dorset Police are warning people to keep away after another ship’s cargo has been recovered on Portland.

The contents of a shipping container were washed up on Chesil Beach. Most of it was destroyed by the authorities.

The majority of this content has been washed up in a destroyed state and members of the public are advised not to attend the beach area.

The councils and emergency services of Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole are united in their plea to the public to think carefully about visiting the shoreline.

The recent influx of cigarettes washed up onto the beaches of Weymouth and Portland may tempt some people to venture out in search of free tobacco but they will be disappointed because the cargo, lost overboard during storms earlier this month, has been badly damaged and is beyond use.

Our main fear is for the safety of the public. Landslips over the past few weeks remain a real risk and people should not put themselves at increase risk.

These cigarettes were part of a large legitimate commercial consignment being shipped from Rotterdam to Sri Lanka when they were lost overboard in storms.

Those cigarettes that have been washed up on local beaches will be recovered and sent for disposal. The public are urged to resist the temptation to collect the cigarettes which have been ruined by the sea water.